Battle of an influx of tresspassers onto Pastoral Stations

Was always a problem on my families properties confusion by the general populace about what a Pastoral or Perpetual Lease actually meant. Many saw it as it being only a lease so therefore right of entry existed which it does not, simple way to avoid confusion contact the owner and seek permission.

We just came back from the Kimberley and saw a lot of roads heading off onto stations along the Western coast, but as tempting as it is, unless it is a gazetted road, consider it private property.

I guess it would be classed as trespassing and you could be charged as such if they really got fed up with it.

cheers

Pastoral Stations are like rented houses - you can't march into anyone's home just because you know it is owned by the State Housing authority.

It is not easy to ask. While some stations have the station name, and now a few have No Camping signs, on their boundary fence grids, I am sure there are others that would not mind if asked. When travelling through the stations, not many have their name shown so you don't know which station you are on, or how to contact them. We have seen two or three with their UHF number on the fence so you may get hold of the pastoralists by UHF. They may not welcome the intrusion of you driving up to the homestead to ask - IF you can find the homestead. All station tracks look alike. Hence if needing to stop for the night, and we will not drive through unfenced station at night particularly if towing, it is simpler to camp within the thirty metre road reserve - although we don't get out the tape measure.

Some years ago travelling through the Murchison, I was horrified and disgusted to see the rubbish left at where someone must have camped alongside a tank and livestock water trough. A heap of 'disposal' nappies, and cans which of course had not burnt away in their campfire. This was seen as it was close to the road.

Motherhen

I believe that in South Australia there is a right of entry for the public onto pastoral land.
Permission must be first sought and obtained from the lease holder, but if the lease holder continually refuses without 'good reason' then an appeal to the pastoral board is in order.

Cheers,
Peter
OKA196 Motorhome

Having lived and worked most of my life in remote areas of WA and the NT I can say that 99% of any camps that have nappies and beer cans left behind will be from locals passing through not tourists traveling. Please note I did say 99% as there will always be some tourists who do not do the right thing.

Joe

There are two issues that consider to confuse the issue,

1) There is a conceived idea that because land in WA can be subject to multiple uses, i.e Pastoral lease, mineral exploration or mining, that therefore if you are not inconflict with any of the current specified use you can enter the land. Another way of this view is that they consider that pastoral lease only gives rights of pastoral activities, and therefore being state owned land access is allowed as long as no competing activities are undertaken.

2) Normally water courses cant be owned, therefore they cannot be lease. So for example a lease that extends on both sides of a major river. There is a view that as the river is not leased property therefore access to the water cannot be prevented.

These are not my views but views gained from talking to others and from other forums.

I am interested in what the real situation actually is.

Alan

Is it a fact or not they don't have control below the high water mark / highest high tide mark and also cant stop access. I remember they couldn't stop professional fishermen as they tried many years ago and couldn't stop my old man who was a pro fisherman.